Photosynthesis in green plants runs as two linked sets of reactions: the light reaction (photochemical phase), which takes place on the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast, and a light-independent biosynthetic phase that follows. The light reaction absorbs light energy through pigments, splits water to release oxygen, and generates the ATP and NADPH — together called assimilatory po
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
Class 1115 previous-year questions from this chapter every option and the correct answer, free · where the marks are
1. Light reaction: photosystems, electron transport, photophosphorylation
Exam focus: Cyclic photophosphorylation runs on Photosystem I alone, cycling electrons back to the same photosystem — so it produces ATP only, with no NADPH and no oxygen evolved, since splitting water is strictly a Photosystem II job.
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants — Full Chapter
Sankalp NEET Vedantu
Full-chapter one-shot covering the entire Photosynthesis chapter including light reactions, the Z-scheme, and chemiosmosis in depth; bundled with Calvin-cycle/C4/factors content rather than a standalone clip.
BotanyNEET 2025show ▾Match List I with List II.
List I List II A. Chlorophyll a I. Yellow-green B. Chlorophyll b II. Yellow C. Xanthophylls III. Blue-green D. Carotenoids IV. Yellow to yellow-orange
Choose the option with all correct matches:
- A.A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
- B.A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV✓
- C.A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
- D.A-I, B-IV, C-III, D-II
Solution
On a chromatogram chlorophyll a is blue-green (III), chlorophyll b yellow-green (I), xanthophylls yellow (II) and carotenoids yellow to yellow-orange (IV).
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Save for spaced revision (free account)BotanyNEET 2023show ▾Which micronutrient is required for the splitting of the water molecule during photosynthesis?
- A.Manganese✓
- B.Molybdenum
- C.Magnesium
- D.Copper
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2023show ▾The reaction centre in PS II has an absorption maximum at:
- A.680 nm✓
- B.700 nm
- C.660 nm
- D.780 nm
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2022show ▾Which one of the following is not true regarding the release of energy during ATP synthesis through chemiosmosis? It involves:
- A.Reduction of NADP to on the stroma side of the membrane
- B.Breakdown of the proton gradient
- C.Breakdown of the electron gradient✓
- D.Movement of protons across the membrane to the stroma
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2021show ▾Which of the following statements is incorrect?
- A.Both ATP and are synthesised during non-cyclic photophosphorylation
- B.Stroma lamellae have PS I only and lack NADP reductase
- C.Grana lamellae have both PS I and PS II
- D.Cyclic photophosphorylation involves both PS I and PS II✓
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2020show ▾In the light reaction, plastoquinone facilitates the transfer of electrons from:
- A.PS II to the complex✓
- B.The complex to PS I
- C.PS I to
- D.PS I to ATP synthase
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2. Calvin cycle, C4 pathway, photorespiration
Exam focus: C4 plants don't skip the Calvin cycle — they still run it, just relocated to the bundle sheath cells, after PEP carboxylase in the mesophyll (which cannot bind oxygen) concentrates CO2 there and starves RuBisCO of the oxygen that would otherwise trigger photorespiration.
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants — Full Chapter
Sankalp NEET Vedantu
Same full-chapter one-shot; the Calvin cycle, C4 pathway and photorespiration are covered within it alongside light reactions and other chapter content.
ZoologyNEET 2025show ▾Which of the following statements about RuBisCO is true?
- A.It is active only in the dark
- B.It has a higher affinity for oxygen than for carbon dioxide
- C.It is an enzyme involved in the photolysis of water
- D.It catalyses the carboxylation of RuBP✓
Solution
RuBisCO catalyses the carboxylation of RuBP in the Calvin cycle. It is active in light, has a higher affinity for than for , and has nothing to do with photolysis of water.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)BotanyNEET 2024show ▾How many molecules of ATP and NADPH are required for every molecule of fixed in the Calvin cycle?
- A.2 molecules of ATP and 2 molecules of NADPH
- B.3 molecules of ATP and 3 molecules of NADPH
- C.3 molecules of ATP and 2 molecules of NADPH✓
- D.2 molecules of ATP and 3 molecules of NADPH
Solution
Each fixed in the Calvin cycle costs 3 ATP and 2 NADPH — 18 ATP and 12 NADPH per hexose.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)BotanyNEET 2024show ▾Which of the following are required for the dark reaction of photosynthesis?
A. Light · B. Chlorophyll · C. · D. ATP · E. NADPH
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.B, C and D only
- B.C, D and E only✓
- C.D and E only
- D.A, B and C only
Solution
The Calvin cycle (the 'dark' reaction) needs as the substrate and the ATP and NADPH produced by the light reaction. It does not directly need light or chlorophyll.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)BotanyNEET 2024show ▾Given below are two statements:
Statement I: In plants, some binds to RuBisCO, hence fixation is decreased.
Statement II: In plants, mesophyll cells show very little photorespiration while bundle sheath cells do not show photorespiration.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- B.Statement I is true but Statement II is false✓
- C.Statement I is false but Statement II is true
- D.Both Statement I and Statement II are true
Solution
In plants RuBisCO's oxygenase activity binds and lowers fixation — Statement I true. In plants photorespiration is avoided because bundle-sheath cells (where RuBisCO sits) are kept -rich; the statement's reversal of which cells photorespire is wrong — Statement II false.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)BotanyNEET 2023show ▾How many ATP and are required for the synthesis of one molecule of glucose during the Calvin cycle?
- A.12 ATP and 12 NADPH
- B.18 ATP and 12 NADPH✓
- C.12 ATP and 16 NADPH
- D.18 ATP and 16 NADPH
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2022show ▾What is the role of the large bundle sheath cells found around the vascular bundles in plants?
- A.To protect the vascular tissue from high light intensity
- B.To provide the site for the photorespiratory pathway
- C.To increase the number of chloroplasts for the operation of the Calvin cycle✓
- D.To enable the plant to tolerate high temperature
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2022show ▾Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The primary acceptor in plants is phosphoenolpyruvate and is found in the mesophyll cells.
Statement II: Mesophyll cells of plants lack the RuBisCO enzyme.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
- B.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct✓
- C.Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
- D.Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2021show ▾The first stable product of fixation in Sorghum is:
- A.Pyruvic acid
- B.Oxaloacetic acid✓
- C.Succinic acid
- D.Phosphoglyceric acid
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BotanyNEET 2020show ▾The oxygenation activity of the RuBisCO enzyme in photorespiration leads to the formation of:
- A.2 molecules of a 3-C compound
- B.1 molecule of a 3-C compound✓
- C.1 molecule of a 6-C compound
- D.1 molecule of a 4-C compound and 1 molecule of a 2-C compound
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
3. Factors affecting photosynthesis
Exam focus: Blackman's law of limiting factors is the lens for every graph question here: the factor nearest its minimum sets the rate, so a light-saturation plateau means light has stopped being limiting and something else — usually CO2 or temperature — now is, not that photosynthesis has maxed out for good.
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants — Full Chapter
Sankalp NEET Vedantu
Same full-chapter one-shot; factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis (light, CO2, temperature) are covered as part of this complete chapter lecture.